Belgian team's Corvette C6.R wins 24 Hours of Spa FIA GT race
07-29-2007, 03:55 PM
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Belgian team's Corvette C6.R wins 24 Hours of Spa FIA GT race
The # 5 Carsport Holland Chevrolet Corvette C6.R won the 59th Total 24 Hours of Spa driven by Jean-Denis Deletraz, Mike Hezemans, Fabrizio Gollin, and Marcel Fässler.
This link says they are based in Belgium. GLPK.net is not their website.
http://www.fiagt.com/teaminfo.php?te...port%20Holland
http://www.fiagt.com/newsitem.php?key=1347
http://www.total24hours.com/
pictures
http://www.the-paddock.net/content/view/241872/49/
http://www.fiagt.com/driverinfo.php?...Denis+Deletraz
http://www.fiagt.com/driverinfo.php?...=Mike+Hezemans
http://www.hezemans.nl/
http://www.fiagt.com/driverinfo.php?...abrizio+Gollin
http://www.fabriziogollin.it/
http://www.fiagt.com/driverinfo.php?...Marcel+Fässler
http://www.mfspeed.ch/
This link says they are based in Belgium. GLPK.net is not their website.
http://www.fiagt.com/teaminfo.php?te...port%20Holland
http://www.fiagt.com/newsitem.php?key=1347
http://www.total24hours.com/
pictures
http://www.the-paddock.net/content/view/241872/49/
http://www.fiagt.com/driverinfo.php?...Denis+Deletraz
http://www.fiagt.com/driverinfo.php?...=Mike+Hezemans
http://www.hezemans.nl/
http://www.fiagt.com/driverinfo.php?...abrizio+Gollin
http://www.fabriziogollin.it/
http://www.fiagt.com/driverinfo.php?...Marcel+Fässler
http://www.mfspeed.ch/
Last edited by micro; 07-29-2007 at 08:41 PM. Reason: added place where team is based
07-29-2007, 08:43 PM
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The Netherlands is often called Holland. This is technically incorrect, as North and South Holland in the western Netherlands are only two of the country's twelve provinces (for more on this and other naming issues see Netherlands (terminology)).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands
07-30-2007, 12:43 PM
#6
Le Mans Master
What's more impressive than a factory backed team winning a 24 hour endurance race? One of your customer's winning a non-factory backed effort against the best in Europe!
I am impressed, because it is one thing for the factory with all it's money and resources to win LeMans, but to have a succeful customer program (like Porsche does) shows the world, how serious you and your car are to the market. It is well know that Porsche has the best customer program, having a entire division devoted to them. If GM could replicate what Porsche does for their customer cars in world-wide market, it would boost the brand tremendously.
I would imagine Pratt & Miller as well as Katech must be doing well, with greater things on the horizon.
I am impressed, because it is one thing for the factory with all it's money and resources to win LeMans, but to have a succeful customer program (like Porsche does) shows the world, how serious you and your car are to the market. It is well know that Porsche has the best customer program, having a entire division devoted to them. If GM could replicate what Porsche does for their customer cars in world-wide market, it would boost the brand tremendously.
I would imagine Pratt & Miller as well as Katech must be doing well, with greater things on the horizon.
07-30-2007, 04:11 PM
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Pics and impressions
First there was (GL)PK carsport, a belgian team running two corvette's. That was split up this year I believe in a dutch team, called carsport holland, running the winning #5 C6.R and a belgian team called pk carsport, running the #4 C5-R, which finished 3rd. To make matters even more complicated, they named their team united 4 belgium for this race...
Anyway, the race was an awesome experience, it was my first 24hr race. The track is just great and the sounds of those beautiful machines thundering over it is just amazing! The Corvette's sounded the best by far (of course) with their deep and loud V8 rumble.
Another car that sounded very mean, almost like it was screaming was the murcielago, sadly both of them didn't finish, just like the 3 astons.
What was especially great for a dutchman and corvette fan like me was to see the dutch corvette overtake the maseratti driven by a belgian, with little more than an hour to go. I screamed my lungs out in between a lot of sad looking belgians!
Here's some pics I took, enjoy!
Yours truly, in yellow ofcourse:
The Murcielago on top of the famous eau rouge bend:
Awesome livery on the Alphand C6.R, with factory drivers olivier beretta and oliver gavin:
Sadly the car failed to impress with a 6th place...
It didn't see the finish:
The winner:
Typical weather for spa...
No comment...
Anyway, the race was an awesome experience, it was my first 24hr race. The track is just great and the sounds of those beautiful machines thundering over it is just amazing! The Corvette's sounded the best by far (of course) with their deep and loud V8 rumble.
Another car that sounded very mean, almost like it was screaming was the murcielago, sadly both of them didn't finish, just like the 3 astons.
What was especially great for a dutchman and corvette fan like me was to see the dutch corvette overtake the maseratti driven by a belgian, with little more than an hour to go. I screamed my lungs out in between a lot of sad looking belgians!
Here's some pics I took, enjoy!
Yours truly, in yellow ofcourse:
The Murcielago on top of the famous eau rouge bend:
Awesome livery on the Alphand C6.R, with factory drivers olivier beretta and oliver gavin:
Sadly the car failed to impress with a 6th place...
It didn't see the finish:
The winner:
Typical weather for spa...
No comment...
07-31-2007, 02:50 PM
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07-31-2007, 03:28 PM
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Thanks for the pictures and write up C6R. It is great to see a private team win a major endurance race in a Corvette.
While I like Maserati, I've never felt that their MC12 cars were honest and so I'm glad to see that they were beaten.
While I like Maserati, I've never felt that their MC12 cars were honest and so I'm glad to see that they were beaten.
08-01-2007, 03:45 AM
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Joy for Hezemans, Deletraz, Fässler and Gollin at Spa
http://www.fiagt.com/newsitem.php?key=1352
The MC12s were built to go racing with the road cars as an after-thought. Neither car has a rear window or a real trunk.
http://www.fiagt.com/newsitem.php?key=1352
The MC12s were built to go racing with the road cars as an after-thought. Neither car has a rear window or a real trunk.
08-02-2007, 03:25 PM
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Couldn't figure out the best place for this, but it looks like another team will be running a Maserati MC12 in GT1 at Road America for the next ALMS race there.
http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...FS=ALMS-LEMANS
http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...FS=ALMS-LEMANS
Maserati to challenge Covettes at Road America
Racing series ALMS
Date 2007-08-01
By Nancy Knapp Schilke - Motorsport.com
Doran Racing has entered a Maserati MC12 for the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) event at the Road America road course with drivers Fredy Lienhard and Didier Theys. It will be the first race for the team's new LM GT1 car.
"It will be a new challenge for all of us, and it comes on a very challenging track," stated team owner and driver Lienhard. "At 4.048 miles and 14 turns, Road America is the second-longest road course in the United States."
Both of the drivers are well-known in sportscar endurance racing and have competed at various times in the ALMS. This will be a new adventure for the duo as they have been active in the prototype category and not in GT class.
"I have very little experience in a modern GT car, but I was really enthused about the Maserati after driving it at the test," said Theys. "In the little bit of time I spent in the car I really enjoyed it, and it will be a new experience for me."
The FIA GT1 Maserati MC12 version is powered by a V-12, six-liter engine. The marque recently placed second in the FIA GT Championship series 24 Hours of Spa, thanks to the Vitaphone Racing Team. Drivers Thomas Biagi, Michael Bartels, Pedro Lamy and Eric van de Poele actually held the lead until the final hour and their main rivals were Corvettes. Carsport Holland's C6-R ended up with the win but the team still holds the edge in the FIA GT standings.
For ALMS fans, it will be a welcome change to see the Trident marque back in action in North America. Team owner Leinhard purchased the MC12 recently and its debut in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin will be headed by Kevin Doran who with the two racers have landed many achievements over the years.
"I enjoyed driving the Maserati at the test, and I'm really happy that Kevin Doran is involved; it will be like in the old days," commented Theys.
The privateer team is ready to take on the challenge of going up against the factory Corvette Racing team. And knowing the Corvette, they are very pleased to accept the challenge. The two team cars battle one another, never giving up ground, this season when Aston Martin withdrew from full-season competition in the series.
"I have no idea how competitive we will be against the factory Corvettes. They have so much experience and they are a factory effort, and we are a small, private team. I also love Road America," Theys added. "I raced there for the first time in 1985 in Super Vees. The following year I started last in a Super Vee race there and finished second. I've raced there probably four or five times in Indy cars too, and then after that in sports cars. Fredy, Mauro Baldi and I won there in 2000 and 2001."
The Doran Lista-sponsored team has not yet officially announced participation in ALMS' final four races at Mosport, Detroit street circuit, Petit Le Mans or Laguna Seca. Perhaps the future will depend on the outcome on August 11th. Action at Road America gets underway with a Thursday test day on August 9th.
Racing series ALMS
Date 2007-08-01
By Nancy Knapp Schilke - Motorsport.com
Doran Racing has entered a Maserati MC12 for the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) event at the Road America road course with drivers Fredy Lienhard and Didier Theys. It will be the first race for the team's new LM GT1 car.
"It will be a new challenge for all of us, and it comes on a very challenging track," stated team owner and driver Lienhard. "At 4.048 miles and 14 turns, Road America is the second-longest road course in the United States."
Both of the drivers are well-known in sportscar endurance racing and have competed at various times in the ALMS. This will be a new adventure for the duo as they have been active in the prototype category and not in GT class.
"I have very little experience in a modern GT car, but I was really enthused about the Maserati after driving it at the test," said Theys. "In the little bit of time I spent in the car I really enjoyed it, and it will be a new experience for me."
The FIA GT1 Maserati MC12 version is powered by a V-12, six-liter engine. The marque recently placed second in the FIA GT Championship series 24 Hours of Spa, thanks to the Vitaphone Racing Team. Drivers Thomas Biagi, Michael Bartels, Pedro Lamy and Eric van de Poele actually held the lead until the final hour and their main rivals were Corvettes. Carsport Holland's C6-R ended up with the win but the team still holds the edge in the FIA GT standings.
For ALMS fans, it will be a welcome change to see the Trident marque back in action in North America. Team owner Leinhard purchased the MC12 recently and its debut in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin will be headed by Kevin Doran who with the two racers have landed many achievements over the years.
"I enjoyed driving the Maserati at the test, and I'm really happy that Kevin Doran is involved; it will be like in the old days," commented Theys.
The privateer team is ready to take on the challenge of going up against the factory Corvette Racing team. And knowing the Corvette, they are very pleased to accept the challenge. The two team cars battle one another, never giving up ground, this season when Aston Martin withdrew from full-season competition in the series.
"I have no idea how competitive we will be against the factory Corvettes. They have so much experience and they are a factory effort, and we are a small, private team. I also love Road America," Theys added. "I raced there for the first time in 1985 in Super Vees. The following year I started last in a Super Vee race there and finished second. I've raced there probably four or five times in Indy cars too, and then after that in sports cars. Fredy, Mauro Baldi and I won there in 2000 and 2001."
The Doran Lista-sponsored team has not yet officially announced participation in ALMS' final four races at Mosport, Detroit street circuit, Petit Le Mans or Laguna Seca. Perhaps the future will depend on the outcome on August 11th. Action at Road America gets underway with a Thursday test day on August 9th.
